Carter holds key for New Zealand

There are question marks hanging over New Zealand but they should still be too powerful for the Lions

DON’T GET carried away with the success the provincial sides have had in making the Lions scuffle for every point. That’s my message to All Blacks supporters going into the first Test. Sure, the Maoris have beaten the tourists and all the provinces have disrupted them, but Kiwis need to get things in perspective because Sir Clive Woodward has kept his cards close to his chest.

Touring sides have the advantage of asking questions of their players week in, week out, whereas the host country is usually concerned about keeping its best players out of the firing line until the Tests. Although the unavailability of Tana Umaga, Conrad Smith, Jerry Collins and Rodney So’oialo for Wellington’s game against the Lions had been thought through by All Blacks coach Graham Henry and was flagged well in advance, it still leaves his squad in a catch-22 situation.